Envelcpe-sealing device



Nov. 30 1926.

A. J. SCHAUB, SR

ENVELOPE SEALING DEVI CE Filed Dec. 26. 1923 INVENTOR ALFRED J- SCH/W55.-

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNRTED STTES ALFRED J'. SCI-IAUB, 3B,, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ENVELOPE-SEALING DEVICE.

Application filed December 26, 1923. Serial No. 682,771.

The present invention relates to improvements in envelope. moistening and .sealing devices and constitutes an improvement on the envelope moistener described in United States Patent No. 1,457,605 dated June 5, 1923. While in the latter patent means for moistenin envelopes were described only, the present invention discloses a combina tion moistening and sealing device allowing the operator to introduce an envelope presented in the ordinary form with a loose flap into the device in two strokes, with the re suit that the flap is unfolded, passed over a rotary moistening drum, relieved of its surplus moisture, folded over the envelope and pressed to render the glue normally provided on the edge of the flap active.

it is also proposed in the present invention to provide a new sealing device which is iiarticularly effective in performing the scaling operation. Further objects and ad 1 r s of my device will appear as the gecihcation proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a top plan view; Figure 2 a vertical section through the same taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 a transverse vertical section taken along line 3 3 of Flgure 1. While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claim hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My envelope moistening device resembles in its salient features the one described in the United States Patent previously referred to, and comprises a box (1) resting on legs (2) having a drum (3) mounted thereon with freedom of rotary motion. A cover l) of wick material surrounds the drum, a portion of which is submerged in water as shown at (6). A cover plate or platform (7) is hinged to one of the walls of the box as shown at (8) and provided with a central opening (9) allowing a portion of the drum to project through the same.

A section 11) projects from the left hand side of the plate (7) and is bent downwardly so as to wedge itself between the flap of the envelope and the body of the same when the envelope is introduced from the left hand side. A spring plate (12) is provided on top of the cover (7) and bears on the top of the unfolded flap for guiding the same on the. upper face of the drum. The pin (13) provided in operative proximity to the drum prevents the flap from being pushed into the device too far.

A weight (14) pivoted to an arm (16), which latter is hinged in a bracket (17) se cured to the rear side of the box (1) normal- 1y rests on the drum and insures thorough moistening of the edge of the envelope flap when the latter is passed between the weight and the drum. This weight terminates on its right hand side in a slotted element (18) adapted to cooperate with an inclined strip (19) in draining any surplus moisture from the envelope flap after the. latter has become disengaged from the drum.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that to moisten the envelope flap the operator picks up the envelope in the form in which it usually appears on the mar ket and introduces it into the apparatus from the left hand side, the section (11) first wedging itself between the flap and the body portion of the envelope and causing the latter in cooperation with the spring (12) to unfold into the plane of the envelope, and the flap then passing between the drum and the weight and finally passing over the strip (19) where any surplus moisture is drained off. In this condition the envelope leaves the device.

For the sealing operation I use the device shown on the right hand side and comprising a plate (21) resting on the cover 7) and pressed downwardly by a leaf spring (22) anchored to the cover as shown at (23) and hinged with its free end to the plate as at (241). It will be noted that the plate (21) curves upwardly near its edge to facilitate the introduction of the envelope between the plate (21) and the. cover (7). It should further be noted that the hinged engagei'neilt between the plate and the leaf spring allows the plate to pivot and to readily adjust itself to the particular form and thickness and differences in thickness at different points occasioned by the contents of the envelope.

Near the right hand edge of the sealing device is provided the curled element (26) projecting slightly above the surface of the cover (7) and cooperating with a corresponding formation of the plate (21) in twisting a limited portion of the envelope out of its normal plane for the purpose of insuring an action somewhat similar to that of the thumb and finger of" a hand engaging an object from opposite sides and sliding over the same. It should also be observed that while the envelope forces its way through the space between the curled element (26) and the plate (21) it subjects the leaf spring (22) to a torsional stress which cooperates with the normal spring action in producing a better result.

"The sealing device which is shown on the right hand side of the box projects forwardly from the front edge; (27); of the latter and is disposed in such a place that a loosely depending flap, when brought into operative relation to the sealingdevice, will first strike the front edge (27) which latter causes the flap to be folded upon the envelope prior to its introduction into the sealing device. a fact which renders the particular position of the sealing device relative to the moistening device of particular importance.

Assuming that the envelope a ter having passed through the moistening device leaves the same in a form such as will naturally re sult from the operation, that is, with the flap depending from the envelope at an angle, the operator may immediately introduce the envelope into the sealing device by a second left-to-right stroke, relying on the front edge (27) to fold the flap over the envelope prior to the entering of'the latter into the sealing device;

' I claim:

An envelope sealing device comprising a flat horizontally disposed support, an el'ement' resting thereon allowing an envelope tobe passed between the element and the sup} port, a leaf spring extending over the element and having one end secured to the support and its opposite end portion provided with a pivoted section secured to the element for exerting downward pressure on the same and means disposed parallel with the spring for forcing a limited portion of the envelope out of its normal plane bringing torsional stresses in the spring into play in addition to the spring pressure.

ALFRED 'J. SCHAU'B, SR. 

